If it's wearing down on the inside edge, that is due to negative "camber". That tire is tilted in on top and that should make the car pull to the right when you let go of the steering wheel. If it's wearing on the outside edge, it's tilted out on top and will pull left. If I remember correctly, camber is not adjustable on your car. Common causes of incorrect camber are sagged coil springs, worn struts allowing movement between the shaft and strut body, worn upper strut mounts, and worn control arm bushings. The upper strut mounts can be hard to identify until they are taken apart for strut replacement. Incorrect camber affects just that one tire. The affected area will be smooth but worn more than the rest of the tread.
Incorrect total toe will cause a different type of wear pattern with high and low spots on each block of rubber tread that you can feel as you run your hand over them. Your fingers will catch on the high spots when you rub one way and will slide over them when you rub them the other way. "Toe" is the direction the wheel is steering. One or both wheels can be misadjusted. If only one wheel is misadjusted, the steering wheel WILL be off-center when driving straight ahead. If both wheels are misadjusted it is possible for the steering wheel to be straight if both are misadjusted equally. Incorrect total toe always affects both tires equally regardless of which one is misadjusted. That said, that wear can be aggravated on one tire if that one's camber is incorrect too.
An inspection at a tire and alignment shop is the place to start. They will measure the ride height too as well as look for worn or bent parts.
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 AT 12:52 AM
